Overall, a decent show for the era.

The gents came to play with a smile, in tuned instruments, and love in the heart; after all it was Mother’s Day month. Personally, when it came down to it the people that attended we’re the best folk I ever did meet @ the concert, dusty parking and down the road. Thank you Grateful Dead, very grateful. ❤️

All I know is something like a bird within her sang
All I know she sang a little while and then flew on

I am a couple hours into this show and have enjoyed listening but it doesn't really sound like a SBD. I mean, i think i enjoy it more than i would a SBD because the ambiance of the outdoor show and audience is there. but at least wanted to mention that.

Nice SBD..but everything sounds a bit distant in the mix..87 was a fun year after the 86 comma scare and I caught a lot of shows..Jerry was back and tearing it up and the FROST always produced good shows..The end of the 1st set is interesting with: Far From Me, Jack Straw> Push, Sate Nite..very enjoyable to say the least~! Then a smoking 1st half of the 2nd set with: China>Rider>Playin'>Terrapin and the rest of the set doesn't disappoint..Jerry don't whip out your Peter..Just Dew Me~!!!!Give It A whirl>Forever Grateful>Forever Dead~~~~Lifer~!

I love what people have to say about this show and so well written too. I will add a couple more observations. As was typical of many starts to 80's shows Healy has Jerry way to low in the mix in Bucket.
This improves by BIODTL is rare and is a cranking version. A false start for Stagger Lee but another keeper for sure.
Jerry is all over it.
Rooster has Jerry just smokin' it and Bob even delivers a competent slide solo, at least he satys in key ;)
Jack Straw has to be the most over the top moment of this first set.
As has been previously stated the second set is excellent.
Many commented over the years that Jerry's playing was never the same after the '86 coma and I disagree totally.
This second set will disprove that belief.
The Morning Dew is easily one of the best of the later part of the Dead's career.
Classic rightous Jerry.
No one has mention Phil Lesh yet? He is driving the bus big tim this night and is loud and clear in the mix.

I agree with Dr. Flashback. This is excellent. Another nice sounding remaster by Charlie too. Thanx Joanie and Paul for hooking up Charlie with so many tapes.

Well with this review the Dr. embarks on my new mission to pick my top ten shows for 1987.
A complex year to be sure. Some feel that since Jerry was just recently back from his coma in 1986, that the playing during most of 1987 was a bit subdued, the jamming kept within safe bounds. Plus you have what should have been the "dream shows" with Bob Dylan during July 87 - in fact being a bit lackluster compared to other shows that year, especially in the Fall tour, 9/18/87 being one example.
However, when the 80's shows are viewed from a whole decade's perspective, 1987 certainly
belongs somewhere near the top of the list. The band and Jerry was revitalized, new songs like
Masterpiece and Watchtower were added, and over the years, runs such as Spring 87, the Fall run at MSG and the Shoreline shows in October have now become favorites of many.
This fine show at the Frost is an easy pick to be sure, but I have to start somewhere!
The first set starts off with a bang and features an interesting mix of tunes. Jerry's voice is in
good form on West LA and Stagger Lee. The crowd howls during Rooster and sends Garcia off into a nice slide solo. Then Brent takes a chunky funky B3 solo that really brings it to a new level. Bobby behaves himself on slide pretty well, and then by the second half the whole chicken house is on fire! Dire Wolf is rollicking fun and a nice surprise. Far From Me is acceptable, if the weak link in the chain here. At least it's better than Tons of Steel. Jack Straw really takes it into high gear, with clean sparkling leads from Jerry and the drums driving the train. The jamming near the end takes no prisoners.
Okay, they've played an old favorite like they meant it, what about a newer song? Push fills the bill here, a song that sadly was not played enough. A great Jerry vehicle. The mandatory OMSN ends the set (it was Saturday night after all). A good first set, no bad songs, strong playing throughout, if lacking in jams.
But it does the job of a first set, putting a smile on your face and generating lots of energy that makes you ready for some serious Dead in Set Two. The band does not disappoint those expectations.
Set Two contains songs that in my opinion, found new ground, new heights in the 80's. China>Rider, Terrapin and Morning Dew to name three. China Cat features the great counterpoint interplay between Jerry and Phil that made the song what it is. Phil and the drums build to an exciting intensity before rolling into Rider. An up tempo Rider that doesn't let go. Jerry nails every note, he soars, he twangs, he soars again. "Wish I was a headlight" is belted out by Jerry and gets a roar from the crowd. Okay, you're either on the train or it's run over you by this point.
And by the way, this new Miller upgrade has a just the right mix of crowd to give you the
true concert experience. Great!
Time to get cosmic. Playin in the Bong, I mean Band sets the tone for the rest of the set.
Another song that was waiting for Brent's B3 to achieve a new and richer sonority and a good sound platform for Jerry and Phil to launch from. A very spacey and for the most part mellow jam ensues with some fine wah work from Garcia. Then they drop perfectly into a mythical Terrapin. Nice dynamics here, from tinkling quiet to monster drum explosions and Jerry blazing away. The jam at 4:30 is almost Dark Star like and pretty. Then at 8:00 Jerry unleashes the tiger and Phil starts dropping the bombs. One of the more raunchy and energetic Terrapins of the year. The Who who?
1977 fans take note - this second set could well be a 1977 set, except for the encore.
Space immediately takes you through the portal of the 4th dimension with heavy Mickey sub tones on the Beam and Jerry sailing above the fray with laser like leads bouncing from star to star. A very deep and introspective Space. Those present and dosed probably discovered the meaning of the universe during this portion of the show.
A few Truckin teases commence at 8:00, and the crowd hears it, but Garcia decides to draw it out
to oblivion and stretches time and space, finally lighting the fuse into a full blown tie-dyed
Truckin. Bob even remembers the words. Caution - Phil bombs ahead!!
How can they top that? With a powerhouse Morning Dew. Garcia delivers the goods like a man who has stared death in the face and come back to testify. Because he did and he does.
The band is in synch and makes the song sound brand new, not an easy task for one this old. By 4:20 into the song (I'm not lying) the band has found the "11" knob on their amps and seemingly brings back the Wall of Sound. Jerry's solo at 5:20 is nothing short of outragious. What guitar could survive such abuse? Crowd applause, then they drop it back down to just Garcia's voice alone ringing out in the hall. Chills and thrills. Will it get loud again?
You betcha. Brent pulls a fire breathing dragon out of his organ and Jerry is just stupendous.
Such fury, such pathos.
A very strong show, four stars and a top ten for 1987.
Recommended!
cheers,
Dr. Flashback

I can't get over how good these Spring '87 shows are. We've all listened to hundreds of Playin's maybe in the 80s alone. My jaw is dropping at how good Jerry's guitar work is in this Playin. He is on fire -- crisp, inventive, authoritative. There is a certain control, a marshalled energy that the band exhibits in early '87 that results in some excellent jamming -- I would argue some of the best of the 80s. I think Mr. Badger nailed it. This isn't the loose drifty trippy Dead jamming that we are used to in transitions. Most of the great jamming here is mid-song; it is thoughtful, probing, insistent jamming. Listen to the virtuosity of Jerry's jam on Playin. Where in the late 80s do you hear it this good.
And Jerry's intensity on "Morning Dew"! If you love "Morning Dew" like I do, don't miss this one.
A five star show in the context of the mid to late 80s.

What a nice venue, what a nice afternoon. It was like a journey back in time to previous decades like the free shows in GG Park or a university amphitheatre on a Sunday afternoon. It was that cool. Jerry and I waved at each other as his limo drove down Palm Drive leaving campus. I yelled, "Thank you, Jerry." I hope he heard me.
Thank you for the great recording, my tapes of the show broadcast on KZSU were pretty lousy.

...and nice sound. The Frost was a great place to see a show and I've always been partial to '87. Pretty good Jack Straw, among other things.

I've recently been becoming reaquainted with 83-88 era Dead. this "period" holds a pretty arbitrary classification, I know...its just that post '82 and pre '89 Dead never held a whole lot for me, with many notable exceptions (Parts of 84, summer '83, the '86 new years run,a few knockouts from '85 maybe, and summer and fall '88 being rather special). Much of this time I hear the band being on a kind of (Albeit still pretty out there, inventive, and at times innovative and with some real peaks in playing)oddball-stadium-rock autopilot. Rather pedestrian, I guess (With my above caveats taken into consideration).
This one, though, is a real stand out. This whole tour is quite good.
Jerry is really on here. The space segments 84-87 are some of the best post '70s. The second half of the first set kills, as does the Push (Always liked that one). Love the hi gain sound Garcia uses so much at this gig.
The run out of a knockout space (quite fiery and much fun noise!) into a very heavy and well played Truckin' into what is up there with the best Dews of the 80s or 90s....too much!
Really excellent and skillful playing all around. They really go off on some numbers...extending instrumental passages and employing thoughtful, deft, spirited playing; as opposed to really stretching out into happy-GD-weirdsville and treading more unknown waters in the transitions between the tunes.
The Terrapin, too, is a real treat (As are many from the 87-88 period, I'm finding). This second set opens on a strong, very Rock and Roll note, as was the case with the ending of the first.
Sound is pretty good. Mix isn't A1, but, hell...
I've learned that to pass this period up (I'm a real 71-74er, with a 77-79 "wing")is my loss.

With a good set of speakers, the right "kind" and a fine glass of Slacker, I embark on another journey!
Long Live the Grateful Dead!!!

we all need some now and again,
an we all can get IT here,
thanks go far an wide.
long live the dead.
gudav